Partners in Carnforth rally to support those in need this Christmas

The Carnforth community has pulled together to make sure that some of the area’s youngest and elderly residents have the very best Christmas.

Carnforth Integrated Care Community (ICC) will deliver 12 Christmas hampers to the elderly and most isolated residents thanks to a donation of £250 from Carnforth Rotary Club. The hampers include donated items from the community including knitted scarves and hats and a hospital pack from Bay Hospitals Charity.

Approximately 300 children in Carnforth and the surrounding villages have also received a £10 Aldi voucher to spend on food over the Christmas period. Carnforth ICC has worked closely with JT Construction, the Salvation Army and local schools to ensure children who receive free school meals or who need additional support over the Christmas holidays receive the vouchers.

JT Construction, on Scotland Road, Carnforth, donated £900 towards the vouchers which was topped up to nearly £3,000 by the Salvation Army.

The vouchers were sent with a Christmas card designed by local artist Annie Pinder.

Emma Paul, Carnforth ICC Development Lead, said: “Both initiatives are a great example of partners working together to support our local communities during what has been a really difficult time for many people. It really is amazing to see the generosity of people and the willingness to help others.

“Jayne Crowther, Carnforth ICC Care Coordinator, identified on her home visits in 2019 that there were elderly and isolated people in the community who had no family and friends living locally and may not receive any gifts or see anyone over Christmas. Back in the summer, we discussed doing a shoebox appeal for these residents but after receiving a donation from Carnforth Rotary Club and items from the community we decided to put together 12 Christmas hampers which also include information about the support that can be accessed for our local residents.

“Both initiatives are our way of showing that there are people out there that care and to bring a bit of festive cheer into people’s lives. We can’t thank our partners and the community enough for their support this year.”

Michelle Titterington, Company Director of JT Construction, said: “We wanted to do something to help with the lack of the school meals throughout the holidays. When I was younger I had free school meals which were a godsend for my mum who was on her own and there are still many families out there who are struggling.

“When I told my colleagues that we were going donate money as a company they said they wanted to be part of it and have donated money to the cause and food items to the Salvation Army which has been massively touching.

“It has been a team effort and has really been pushed forward by JT Construction, the Salvation Army and Carnforth ICC working in partnership with the local schools to identify those in need.”

Gay Tonks, Territorial Envoy for the Salvation Army, said: “We were delighted to assist Carnforth ICC and JT Construction to send food vouchers for Christmas to children in local schools who receive school meals. A few extra vouchers are available to the schools to make a decision regarding some families not eligible for school meals but that the schools may have concern for.

“Earlier this year we at Carnforth Salvation Army received some generous funding because we set up the connection with Morecambe Bay Foodbank during the first lockdown. The aim of that funding was to assist us to help children and families in Carnforth area. That was done to some degree via the emergency COVID response but it has been good to honour the intention of that funding in this way now.

“The general public are making donations of food and toys which we advise will be sent into the central Morecambe Bay Foodbank, to our colleagues at Morecambe and Kendal as well as to the Carnforth Rotary Toy Appeal. Any monetary funds we receive have been added to our Community Funding to supplement the costs of the vouchers and other small efforts for our local community this Christmas and throughout the year.”